Trip Schedule - December 2016

Level: MODERATE HIKE (6-7 miles)​​We premiered this hike a few years ago -- it’s a moderate version (featuring mostly different trails) of the strenuous hike we’ve offered for years in March on rugged Storm King Mountain, which towers above the Hudson River. The distance is shorter than on most moderate hikes, but the hike starts with a steep climb of several hundred feet to the top of Butter Hill, and many of today’s trails are especially rough and rocky. We’ll be rewarded with some of the most spectacular vistas available anywhere along the Hudson.

Date: 12/4 SUN

Location: MEYER PRESERVE (New York).

Level: EASY HIKE (5-6 miles)​For today’s hike we’ll be returning to one of Westchester County's loveliest and least-known natural areas, the Meyer Preserve. There's a beautiful little ravine with a stream and lots of thick hemlock and pine forest. The terrain is very hilly but most of the hiking is easy.

Date: 12/10 SAT

Location: HOOK MOUNTAIN CLIFFS – Hook Mountain State Park (New York).

Level: EASY-MODERATE HIKE (6-7 miles)

​For a number of years we’ve offered a 12-mile moderate hike in the spring on precipitous Hook Mountain, which overlooks the Hudson River north of Nyack. Today’s hike, which premiered a few years ago, is a shorter, easy-moderate version of that hike, which starts with a mostly-gradual (but occasionally steep) 700-foot ascent. The rest is much easier, with a few hills and a long nearly-flat stretch alongside the river. Views from the mountain cliffs are splendid.

Level: MODERATE-STRENUOUS HIKE (8-9 miles)Today we’ll be hiking to the tops of three sizable mountains south of Bear Mountain, starting with a steep 1,000-foot climb of Dunderberg Mountain. Our total ascent will be well over 2,500 feet, and the trails are extremely rocky and rugged here. All three mountains offer wonderful vistas. Recommended for experienced and fit hikers who are capable of maintaining a reasonably brisk pace.

Date: 12/17 SAT

Location: DUNDERBERG VALLEY - Bear Mountain State Park (New York).

Level: EASY HIKE (6 miles)

Today we’ll be following several trails and old woods roads to circle around the scenic valley between Dunderberg Mountain and Bear Mountain, near the Hudson River. Included will be a stop at a beautiful mountain stream with a sizable waterfall, and we’ll be walking through part of the historic abandoned village of Doodletown. There are some major hills, but most of the ups and down are gradual.

Date: 12/18 SUN

Location: PINE MEADOW LAKE - Harriman State Park (New York).

Level: MODERATE HIKE (9 miles)​Our last hike of 2016! Many would agree that Pine Meadow Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in Harriman State Park, and it's one of the few that's relatively isolated. Today's itinerary will take us over several small mountains with fine views, and we'll have lunch on a rock outcropping before descending to the lake -- after which we’ll follow a lovely stretch of Pine Meadow Brook. Some occasionally steep and rocky trail-climbs are included.